Technology
As part of the survey, AppFolio asked leasing agents: “Which parts of the marketing and leasing process would you most like to see automated or streamlined through the use of technology?” Processing lease renewals came in as the top choice, with 45% of participants responding this way.
Team members asserted that the best way to streamline leasing is by eliminating friction in the renewal process with comprehensive, automated technology. This in turn boosts leasing-team satisfaction, resulting in an improved resident experience, which can then reflect positively on the property owner. It creates a virtuous cycle that in a best case scenario can boost occupancy and revenue.
Flexibility
A key learning revealed from The Great Resignation is that productivity is not a byproduct of working from a specific desk under management supervision. In fact, those who are allowed to work remotely or flexibly report increased productivity. Naturally, certain jobs require an on-site presence, but leasing does not. And to satisfy current and would-be leasing agents, there’s data to back up why property managers should allow them flexible work schedules:
- In AppFolio’s survey, 37% of leasing agents were more likely to say making remote work an option would improve their job satisfaction, compared to 28% of property managers and just 7% of maintenance employees.
- In fact, when asked “What changes has your employer made in the last 12 months that have improved your overall job satisfaction?” the most common answer among leasing agents was more flexibility in their schedule.
Career Growth
According to the survey, 41% of leasing agents reported a desire for more time to focus on higher value tasks, and leasing agents ranked “opportunities for career growth” as more important to them than any other group of property management employee.
But with so little time for these new, higher value tasks, many leasing agents feel stuck in their day-to-day with no opportunity to showcase what else they bring to the table. So, what can property managers do?
Re-evaluate your technology stack
The right property management technology stack can reduce the most time-consuming aspects of property management, so that employees can provide faster service to residents and focus on higher level tasks to prepare them for a higher level role. This can be an AI-enabled leasing assistant that handles all prospect inquiries, and funnels serious prospects down to your leasing staff. Then, modern CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tools that integrate seamlessly into your property management platform can help nurture these leads and improve leasing performance.
With the right technology tools at their disposal, leasing agents will not only be empowered to perform at peak capacity, but also have the opportunity to learn new skills and grow their careers.
To get an in-depth look at AppFolio’s survey results, check out the AppFolio Property Manager 2022 Hiring and Retention Report.